Prairie’s Edge – 2015 Main Street

Beef Fritters are a lovely indulgence.

One of the loveliest evenings that you can plan during summer in Winnipeg is a night at Canada’s longest-running outdoor theatre, Rainbow Stage. And the best way to commence your summer evening is with a pre-theatre dinner in the Pavilion restaurant, Prairie’s Edge.

Prairie’s Edge is the newest manifestation of the WOW Hospitality restaurant in Kildonan Park. The light-filled restaurant features locally inspired cuisine by one of my favourite Winnipeg chefs, Michael Daquisto. Many Winnipeggers fondly remember Daquisto’s (the restaurant that bore his name), and before that Pasta la Vista.

My lunch date suggested the beet fritters, and even though I typically prefer items that have not been deep-fried, these morsels were worth the indulgence. The juice from the vegetables had seeped into the batter, each bite exposing more of the beet’s unique colour. Served up on a slaw of orange and fennel, the contrasts were visually appealing and tasty.

We indulged in tasty pickerel cheek pops. The cheeks had been dusted and skewered, making for a fun presentation. The peas and garlic comfit completed the dish’s delightful flavour.

Following Chef Michael’s suggestion we also tried the crispy pork belly served with braised cabbage, parsnip puree and toasted wild rice. As promised, it was fabulous.

Michael Daquisto’s talent shines with local ingredients from the Canadian prairies.